Flourishing Churches and the Power of Leadership: Reflections from the Church Planting Conference
Laura Palmer writes, from Transformations Leeds, a charity seeking to transform students to transform nations through partnership with God, international students and local churches. Our vision is to multiply the impact of Godly international students, empowering them to lead and impact nations through culturally relevant Bible studies, intercultural evangelism and learning from the global church.
In April 2025, I attended an inspiring conference on Church Planting in Durham, where over 100 participants gathered to explore what God is doing through church planting in the North of England and beyond. Two main themes emerged as central to our time together: flourishing church planting and the appropriate use of power. Both are crucial for the health and growth of churches, but it was the understanding of power dynamics that particularly impacted me.
As a Baptist leader, currently pursuing a doctorate in church planting with an intercultural focus, I was especially intrigued by the diverse perspectives presented by speakers from across the globe, ranging from the UK and USA to Nigeria, France, and New Zealand. This variety highlighted The Bede Centre for Church Planting’s vision to foster cross-denominational dialogue and promote unity in diversity, particularly in how the church can thrive in diverse contexts.
Rev Dr. Josh Cockayne, Director of The Bede Centre, welcomed us by asking whether "numbers matter" in church planting. He emphasized that flourishing churches aren’t just about growing congregations but about creating spaces where communities can truly thrive. Rev. Dr. Gregg Okesson’s case studies from Kenya and the USA reinforced this idea, showing that flourishing isn’t just about numerical growth, it’s about empowering people and celebrating diversity within leadership and community.
Flourishing churches are those where everyone, regardless of background, has an opportunity to contribute and thrive. Okesson emphasised the importance of representation in leadership, demonstrating that when churches embrace diverse leadership, they reflect the full breadth of God’s kingdom. Personally, this resonated with me. It made me reflect on how Transformations Leeds can cultivate flourishing by prioritizing inclusion and diversity, not just in our student leadership teams but throughout our church partnerships and mentoring Christian graduates globally.
The Role of Power in Church Planting
Throughout the conference, the role of power in church planting was a constant theme, appearing repeatedly in my notes. Power dynamics are an inescapable part of leadership, but how we manage power can significantly impact the health of a church community. One of the most insightful talks came from Rev. Dr. Helen Collins, who discussed the potential for abuse in church leadership, especially but not exclusively within Charismatic contexts. She highlighted how metaphors like “church as family” can blur healthy boundaries and perpetuate toxic leadership. By expanding our language and structures to include metaphors like “church as flock” or “church as rock,” we can help guard against such abuses of power.
Her research, influenced by Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner, warned that human nature often means well-meaning actions can either help or harm the church. This resonated deeply with me. I’ve been challenged to reflect on the power I hold in leadership, whether formal or informal, and to seek God’s guidance in using it wisely. I need to be intentional about creating spaces where others can flourish through shared leadership.
Another powerful presentation came from Nigerian curate Rev. Stephen Ogbonna, who discussed the impact of Pentecostalism in Western Africa. He shared how indigenous churches grew rapidly after missionary efforts failed to contextualize the gospel. Ogbonna highlighted the priesthood of all believers, which allowed local leaders to take ownership of churches. However, he also pointed out the weaknesses in these churches, such as the over-reliance on charismatic leaders. This served as a reminder of the importance of shared leadership and accountability.
Most interestingly he highlighted ways in which working together with Pentecostal churches can be mutually beneficial for other traditions. This included creating intercultural churches which had space for people to experience God in both the loud and in the quiet. Empowering grassroot evangelists to boldly declare Jesus, and leadership structures including representation from across the body for a more inclusive Christian witness. I especially noted similarities between Pentecostal and Baptist traditionals embracing congregational leadership structures.
Personal Reflections and Takeaways
In addition to the discussions on flourishing and power, we were also reminded that personal character development plays an integral role in church planting. Christian psychologist Dr. Roger Bretheron shared insights from a scientific perspective, showing how nurturing positive character traits has ripple effects throughout communities. As God transforms us, we should expect the communities around us to be transformed as well. This perspective made me reflect on the power of personal virtues and how they can foster long-term community development, even in small ways, like a kind gesture or an encouraging word.
My key takeaways from the conference were:
Be mindful of the power I hold in any leadership role, formal or informal, and seek God’s guidance on how to use it responsibly.
Embrace collaboration and learn from those whose perspectives differ from mine.
Cultivate and practice my personal strengths intentionally, knowing that as I grow, those around me can grow too.
The Flourishing Church Planting conference was a powerful reminder that churches thrive when they empower people, celebrate diversity, and steward power wisely. As I return to my work at Transformations Leeds, I carry these insights with me, hoping to create spaces where international students and local communities can flourish together in the Kingdom of God.